My second year of college, I missed out on an opportunity. My roommates started a club for Track and Field at my university. Of course, I joined for that year, but eventually lost interest in it, as I didn't see myself getting any better, and there were only nine or ten of us on the team. Waiting so long to join was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my college career.

A track team is more than a team, especially at the college level. You have so much individuality and freedom, that sometimes it can be too much. Sometimes we long for some sort of home away from home, a family away from a family. A college track team provides a safety net, but also provides you a gentle nudge toward pushing yourself.

A track team is unique, in that the sport requires you to push yourself so as not let your team down. This strange balance between individual and team sport is what makes the bond between you and your teammates that much closer. They are relying on you just as much as you are relying on them. They will lift you up, they'll keep you humble, and they'll have your back on and off the track.

On meet days, your mind will race faster than your legs, but your teammates will be there to slow you down, relax you, help you focus on what the day is about -- doing what you've spent countless hours practicing. Doing well isn't a factor when you have a team that truly cares for you. Succeed or fail, your team isn't going to abandon you, isn't going to put you down, isn't going to hinder your progress.

Specific event teammates share an even deeper bond with you. Knowledge is shared. Handshakes are invented. Confidence is nurtured and ego is kept in check. Having teammates like this genuinely made me, personally, a better person. I learned to keep my head on straight, but not to take shit from anyone.

And then there's your coach. The man or woman that drives the team. This person is a steady guide to your progression and the overall team dynamic. They set the tone for each practice. They're the one you go to when things start to go downhill on and off the track. Having a coach teaches you what it means to sacrifice. They will push you to the point where you feel like you're being treated unfairly; that is, until you see progress and start to get hungry for more.

There is no replacement for a track team. Do yourself a favor and join one, especially if you're hesitant. On a track team you can let yourself be pushed outside of your comfort zone. You can let yourself grow on the track and off. Spend time with your team, don't let something as special as a tight-knit team pass you by.